Narok County unveils development plans

Narok Governor Samuel Tunai (right) with the Standard Group Director of Business Development and Innovation Francis Munywoki (left) and Group Commercial Director Irene Kimani at his office in Narok, Thursday. [Photo: Boniface Thuku/Standard]

By Charles Ngeno

Narok, Kenya: Narok County government has laid out plans aimed at placing it ahead of other counties.

Top on the agenda is the development of the popular Masai Mara Game Reserve.

Governor Samuel Tunai Thursday said structures had already been put in place to ensure Narok gets world attention as the best tourist destination.

He said the county government had prioritised improvement of the road network between Narok and Masai Mara.

“Our government has stopped further development of lodges that have been mushrooming at the reserve. Recently, we introduced stiffer penalties on illegal grazers at the reserve,” said Tunai.

Tunai said plans were underway to form a county tourist marketing board.

He disclosed that the China-Africa Development Bank had accepted to tarmac 500 kilometres of the county’s roads. “This will enable our farmers deliver their produce to the market on time. In turn this will economically empower our citizens,” said Tunai.

Service delivery

Speaking in his office when the Standard Group senior staff led by Director of Business Development and Innovation Francis Munywoki paid him a courtesy call, Tunai said his government had aligned its service delivery with that of Jubilee Government and Vision 2030.

Also present were the group’s Commercial Director Irene Kimani, Commercial Manager Grace Kabbis and The Counties Managing Editor Kipkoech Tanui.

On education, the governor said his government had asked the national government to allow it develop physical facilities in schools.

“We have plans to put up staff houses, laboratories and more classrooms so that our children receive quality education,” he said.

He further said that more boarding schools would be established in areas where pupils have been attacked by wild animals on their way to school.

The governor said plans were at an advanced stage to upgrade Narok District Hospital to level five.

“The hospital has been overwhelmed by cases of accidents that are often reported. Upgrading it will enable the facility handle these cases without problems,” he said.

He revealed that 19 percent of park fee collection will be ploughed back to local communities.